The overturned Jeep at the end of the chase.
Information from LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, photos from LaPorte City Police
Cortez
A man identified as Leroy Michael Cortez, 47, was ultimately apprehended after a lengthy police chase that started in LaPorte on Wednesday night, March 25, 2015. The chase reportedly involved numerous police vehicles.
The incident started when Cortez fled from a traffic stop initiated by a LaPorte City Police officer on the Ind. 35 overpass. Sheriff’s Deputy Cade Cooper was nearby and joined in the pursuit as it traveled north on Pine Lake Avenue and eventually north on Ind. 39 beyond city limits.
Cooper continued the pursuit as Cortez fled north on Ind. 39 and then entered the Indiana Toll Road. Cortez broke the cross arm at the toll booth and traveled west, police said. The pursuit continued to approximately the 22 mile marker, near Portage, IN, at speeds in excess of 100 mph. Police said Cortez then made a U-turn and headed back east.
The pursuit continued back into LaPorte County and Cortez left the toll road at the LaPorte exit, 49 mile marker, the same point where he entered. He again broke a cross arm and fled north on Ind. 39.
Shortly after Cortez crossed the Indiana/Michigan state line, Sheriff’s Sgt. Andy Hynek conducted a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuver, which caused Cortez to lose control of his Jeep Grand Cherokee and slide off the west side of State Road 239 just south of New Buffalo, MI. The vehicle rolled twice before coming to rest on its roof in a water-filled ditch.
Cortez was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported by Berrien County Sheriff’s Police first to a hospital in St. Joseph, MI, to be medically cleared, then was lodged in the Berrien County Jail on a preliminary charge of Driving While Intoxicated. LaPorte County deputies will be filing criminal charges Thursday morning, as well as a request for Cortez to be extradited back to Indiana. Pursued LaPorte County charges will include Resisting Law Enforcement, Criminal Recklessness with a Motor Vehicle, 2 counts of Criminal Mischief, and numerous traffic violations. LaPorte City Police are also seeking criminal charges against Cortez.